
Storyteller Shadow |

Figured this would be helpful:
Adam Daigle wrote:I mentioned this in the product thread for Pathfinder #121, but it bears repeating here too. With the ramp up for GenCon, the Player's Guide is moving a little slower than normal. I try to have it available when subscribers start getting their PDFs, which is any day now, but that's not going to happen this time around. I'd expect the Player's Guide to drop anywhere from as soon as the end of the week to the street date of the AP (August 17th).Also, Shadow, reading over today's Paizo blog, it seems its very easy and even somewhat encouraged, to incorporate a sort of 'session 0' interview process.
I definitely think you should include this in your recruitment/opening of game.
Yeah, my plan is to start with prologues. The group will gather and leave from the Grand Lodge but if PCs start elsewhere I'll have short travel prologues as well.

Storyteller Shadow |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |

Player's Guide :)
Oooohhhh. At Gen Con?
Edit: Oh crap, it dropped today!
Go get it folks!
Pathfinder Adventure Path: Ruins of Azlant Player's Guide PDF

FangDragon |

Are you planning on using ABP in this game? I usually like that system but I'm working on a black blade Magus (the blade originally came from ancient Azlant likely found by the character's parents on a mission. The blade has an agenda of its own but if it could remember what it was, it's been so long). Got several other ideas too if ABP is being used :)

Storyteller Shadow |

Are you planning on using ABP in this game? I usually like that system but I'm working on a black blade Magus (the blade originally came from ancient Azlant likely found by the character's parents on a mission. The blade has an agenda of its own but if it could remember what it was, it's been so long). Got several other ideas too if ABP is being used :)
I don't generally use ABP in my games. However, there are games as PC where I do use it. I am lukewarm about the system, I don't like it nor do I dislike it.
But, let's hear from other interested candidates, yay or nay on ABP?

Phntm888 |
Automatic Bonus Progression. Basically, it gives you all the bonuses of the "big six" items so you don't need to spend money on them, and can fill those item slots with other items you normally wouldn't use. To compensate, you only get half the normal WBL. I'm playing in a couple games with it, and thus far, my overall opinion is "It's okay." I think I'd prefer standard progression for Ruins of Azlant.

JDPhipps |

I propose a compromise: Bonuses from ABP, but full wealth by level. Then everyone's happy. ;)
Isn't that the Gestaltiest thing to do?
I mean, you aren't wrong.
I think I'd almost prefer ABP because it allows all the magic items you do find to be really interesting. When I go digging through Azlanti ruins, I don't really want to find a +2 Belt of Physical Perfection, you know? That's boring. I want to find some ancient treasures lost to the world, or whatever.
I use ABP with 3/4 WBL which I think is a pretty good compromise.

Storyteller Shadow |

I am not a fan of WBL.
I will have appropriate treasure within the game.
Still mulling over ABP, I'll have a decision on it by the time I have the full recruitment post up.
Also, there are a few traits I may change in the players guide as they don't work as well due to the way I see the beginning of the campaign shaping up.

JDPhipps |

I don't really stick to wealth by level usually, other than when characters start at a higher level and I use it for that purpose. It's a rough guideline, at best.
I have a couple character concepts mulling over right now, I'll have to look at the Pathfinder gestalt options before I make my choice. Right now I'm particularly interested in an Elven Slayer, but we'll see how it goes.

Doomed Hero |

I love ABP. It makes magic items feel more magical. There's more functional options, they tend to do more than just give static bonuses, and when you end up in an anitmagic field you aren't completely hosed.
Once I find out how the Gestalt progression works, I'll be submitting an Elven Pathfinder Savant. Probably an Evoker Wizard as the other class.

JDPhipps |

I'm not a fan of ABP. I feel it nerfs weapons too much and feels like a bit of a straight jacket to me. You WILL get this bonus at this level.
My 2 cents.
I'm going to be submitting a druid for this one. I've never played on and think a colony could use a cook/farmer.
One big change I make to ABP is making the granted armor/weapon bonuses stack with magical enchantments rather than overlapping. So, a Flaming Longsword doesn't drop your +2 attunement to a +1. I feel it helps a lot with this particular issue. I think ABP needs a couple tweaks to be really fun, but when you do it right I definitely agree with Doomed Hero that it makes them feel more magical. I can buy or use that weird belt that has a niche but cool ability and not hamstring myself because my physical ability scores aren't going up.

Monkeygod |

I have ended up in over 30 years of play in an anti magic field about once per decade of play, and of those times once in pathfinder play. I do not like abp because I like finding monsters and killing them for my stuff. Call me old fashioned.
ABP still allows that.
It's just when the monster dies, you'll get a niftier item than just a +4 belt of Str or Con
Perhaps instead you get a Belt of Mighty Hurling, or a Belt of Earthen Might.
You'll still get those bonuses to your ability scores, saves, AC, etc, but for 'free', allowing you to get cooler magic items from your treasure.
As for this game, I'm fine either way. I trust Shadow enough to make the loot tables cool enough to fit the theme of the AP, with or without ABP.

CariMac |

Storyteller Shadow |

I'VE just about got the Traits ready to post. I'll have them up tonight. The PRC conversions I'll finalize and send out for a review to a disinterested party, hoping for feed back by Monday and release of them by Wednesday.
I am leaning APB based on feedback so far with bonuses starting at 2nd level.

Storyteller Shadow |

Hey Shadow,
Not sure if it's 'frowned' upon in the AP itself, but in the PG traits section, for the Pathfinder trait, they mention the Venture Company not really wanting PFs to be apart of the expedition.
I'm guessing you'll just flat out ignore this?
I'll address it as part of I/C when game gets rolling but I like that twist actually and will incorporate it into the game.
;-)

DM Decemvirate's Emissary |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |

Pathfinder Society Scion Traits
Every faction on Golarion has its Heroes, members that rise above all others due to their accomplishments or in some cases, due to their notoriety. The Pathfinder Society is no different except in scope of membership and commonality of purpose. Instead of an organization based on ideology, the Society dedicates itself to exploration by way of chronicling adventures in exotic locales and publishing tales of these exploits in the Pathfinder Chronicles. Thus, even the most heated of religious rivals or political enemies can find common ground in the Society!
The Decemvirate, ten mysterious hooded leaders have driven the Society through three centuries of exploration of mysterious locations revealing lost tales and mysteries. Perhaps the greatest of these explorers was Durvin Gest, who is credited with being the first person to explore the Ruins of Old Azlant.
The most exceptional members of the Society may, or may not, have been members of the Decemvirate. Regardless, their Legacies live on in cases where they are dead and they share their wealth of knowledge with younger members of the Society where they are still living (or unliving).
The Bountiful Venture Company has founded a Colony called Talmandor’s Bounty on an island in what is left of Azlant. Despite substantial interest shown in joining the efforts to colonize the island named Ancorato, the Society has been rebuffed. The Decemvirate of course, finds this rejection inexplicable and will not simply allow the slight to pass. Therefore, the Decemvirate seeks the best and the brightest and most importantly unknown young members of the society to surreptitiously join the next ship from Almas journeying to the Colony.
But how best to pick those who are unknown commodities? Why it is to ensure that those chosen are either trained by current exceptional Members or are somehow descended from the greatest Legacies of the Society!
The following Traits must be selected by each Player representing their own connection to the Pathfinder Society through either a Current Member, an Ex Member, or a Legacy Member. Each Player may only choose one of the Traits listed below. Your Backstory will include your connection to the Chosen Scion Trait.
Note that each Trait grants at least one Skill as a Class Skill giving the PC a +2 Legacy bonus to that Skill (some Legacies allow for selection of the skill while others only allow for a single option). In addition, the Scions also have in their possession a Wayfinder of great power that has been passed down through history and landed in your hands or was given as a gift by a Current Society Member to aid the young Society Member, their Protégé on this Grand Quest! Remember, the Wayfinder is considered a tool of the Pathfinder and they should be kept out of view of other Members of the Expedition.
Wayfinder - A small magical device patterned off ancient relics of a long lost civilization, a wayfinder is typically made from silver and bears gold accents. With a command word, you can use a wayfinder to shine (as the light spell). The wayfinder also acts as a nonmagical (magnetic) compass, granting you a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks to avoid becoming lost. All wayfinders include a small indentation designed to hold a single ioun stone. An ioun stone slotted in this manner grants you its normal benefits (as if it were orbiting your head), but frequently reveals entirely new powers due to the magic of the wayfinder itself. However, some of these Wayfinders contain multiple slots for Ioun Stones. In addition, these Wayfinders do not create resonant power effects and all Ioun Stones function without interference. Where the description of the Ioun Stones below differ from “official rules”, the description below supersedes RAW.
To clear any confusion, Ex-Members are still alive but not currently tied to the Society, Current Members are active Members and in some cases Leaders and Venture Captains, and Legacy Members are deceased or believed to be deceased Society Members.
Finally, I will only select ONE PC from any given Scion Trait chosen. So, for example, if three submissions select Adolphus, only one of those three will be selected.
Scion Traits:
Benefit – Diplomacy is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Adolphus’ Wayfinder: Mulberry Pentacle (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Bluff & Diplomacy, Opalescent White Pyramid (Ioun Stone) - Proficiency - Bastard Sword.
Benefit – Perform is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Kindler’s Wayfinder: Amethyst Pyramid (Ioun Stone) - Hide from Undead, Dark Blue Rhomboid (Ioun Stone), Alertness Feat.
Benefit – Intimidate is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Valsin’s Wayfinder: Scarlet and Green Cabochon (Ioun Stone) - Endurance Feat, Pale Blue Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Strength
Benefit – Knowledge History is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Safan’s Wayfinder: Mossy Disk (Ioun Stone) - '+5 any 1 Knowledge Skill, Nacreous Gray Sphere (Ioun Stone) - Anti Aging.
Benefit: Bluff is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Pontius’ Wayfinder: Mulberry Pentacle (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Bluff & Diplomacy, Amber Spindle (Ioun Stone) - '+1 All Saves.
Benefit – Knowledge Local is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Dreng’s Wayfinder: Eastern Star (Ioun Stone; Emerald Spire version) - Comprehend Languages, Pink and Green Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Charisma
Benefit – Escape Artist, OR Handle Animal, OR Survival is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Gest’ Wayfinder: Gold Nodule (Ioun Stone) - Understand, Speak Read, and Write Azlanti, Deep Brown Sphere (Ioun Stone) - Discern Location (above or below sea level), Pale Ruby Trillian (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Stealth.
Benefit – Disable Device is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Kline’s Wayfinder: Dark Green Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - Detect Poison At Will, Pale Ruby Trillian (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Stealth.
Benefit – Swim is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Vellian’s Wayfinder: Vermilion Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Acrobatics & Swim, Amethyst Pyramid (Ioun Stone) - Hide from Undead.
Benefit – Knowledge Planes is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Jandivan’s Wayfinder: Pearly White Spindle (Ioun Stone) - Regen 1 pt per 10 Minutes.
Benefit – Knowledge Engineering is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Gojan’s Wayfinder: Pink Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Con, Incandescent Blue Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Wisdom.
Benefit – Perception is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Voth’s Wayfinder: Magenta Prism (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Any 1 ability score (can change that ability daily).
Benefit – Sense Motive is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Torch’s Wayfinder: Dark Green Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - Detect Poison At Will, Mulberry Pentacle (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Bluff & Diplomacy.
Benefit – Disguise OR Stealth is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Sivanshin’s Wayfinder: Nacreous Gray Sphere (Ioun Stone) - Anti Aging, Deep Red Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Dexterity.
Benefit – Knowledge Religion is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Gavix’s Wayfinder: Dusty Rose Prism (Ioun Stone) - '+1 Insight bonus AC, Mossy Disk (Ioun Stone) - '+5 any 1 Knowledge Skill, Scarlet and Blue Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Int & +3 Know HX.
Benefit – Knowledge Dungeoneering is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Azmeren’s Wayfinder: Pale Ruby Trillian (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Stealth, Amber Spindle (Ioun Stone) - '+1 All Saves.
Benefit – Use Magic Device is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Shaine’s Wayfinder: Scarlet and Blue Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Int & +3 Know HX, Pink and Green Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Charisma.
Benefit – Ride is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Yayao’s Wayfinder: Turquoise Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Ride & Grant Mount Fleet Feat', Opalescent White Pyramid (Ioun Stone) - Proficiency - Spiked Chain.
Benefit – Sleight of Hand is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Farabellus’ Wayfinder: Thorny (Ioun Stone) [Multi-Colored] - '+2 ALL Combat Maneuvers.
Benefit - Knowledge Arcana OR Spellcraft is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Jatambe’s Wayfinder: Scarlet and Blue Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Int & +3 Know HX, Clear Spindle (Ioun Stone) - No food or water, Pink Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Con.
Benefit – Knowledge Nature is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Osprey’s Wayfinder: Incandescent Blue Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Wisdom, Mossy Disk (Ioun Stone) - '+5 any 1 Knowledge Skill.
Benefit – Climb OR Linguistics is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Foster’s Wayfinder: Eastern Star (Ioun Stone; Emerald Spire version) - Comprehend Languages, Dusty Rose Prism (Ioun Stone) - '+1 Insight bonus AC, Mulberry Pentacle (Ioun Stone) - '+5 Bluff & Diplomacy.
Benefit - Knowledge Geography is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Heidmarch’s Wayfinder: Magenta Prism (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Any 1 ability score (can change that ability daily).
Benefit – Heal OR Knowledge Nobility is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Solistar’s Wayfinder: Deep Red Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Dexterity, Clear Spindle (Ioun Stone) - No food or water, Pink and Green Sphere (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Charisma.
Benefit – Bluff is a Class Skill for you and you gain a +2 Legacy Bonus to that Skill.
Dralneen’s Wayfinder: Dark Blue Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - Alertness Feat, Pale Blue Rhomboid (Ioun Stone) - '+2 Strength.

Monkeygod |

Shadow, you left out Sorrina, the current Master of Spells.
Are you wanting at least one of each of the 5 classes?
I am currently leaning heavily towards Student of War/Lore Warden.
Thus, if somebody is intending to play a Savant or Chronicler, perhaps we can create ties for me to be the might to your magic.

Storyteller Shadow |

Shadow, you left out Sorrina, the current Master of Spells.
Are you wanting at least one of each of the 5 classes?
I am currently leaning heavily towards Student of War/Lore Warden.
Thus, if somebody is intending to play a Savant or Chronicler, perhaps we can create ties for me to be the might to your magic.
Yeah, I was going to include her (I was looking at her today on the Wiki) but I figured what's one more when I gave like 25 options plus I just for some reason did not get the best feel for her.
Not necessarily wanting one of each of the 5 but that's probably what I will end up having as criteria!

JDPhipps |

Oh man, do I try to make my backstory explain the slightly more mechanically beneficial option, or do I take the one that is ultimately a little less useful but fits my backstory so well?
Would we ever get a chance to change out the stones, if we wanted to? I know the Azlanti originally made the Ioun Stones, so I'm just wondering. If I can, I'll probably take the option that's a little less mechanically beneficial and swap it out later. If not, I have some thinking to do.

TheAlicornSage |

Two questions, I could shift by BG to fit a few different scion options, must my submission be taken on specifically for one, or can I have a second alteration should someone else also choose the same scion? I'd be rather disappointed to be left out because of something so easily altered.
Second question, I was thinking of playing a paladin (one of a few ideas), though my take on lawful good alignment challenges the common view on alignment. Is this acceptable, or should I avoid it?